Right-back Gamboa was a stand-out as the minnows made a storming run to the quarter-finals in Brazil, winning a Group of Death containing three former World Cup winners in England, Italy and Uruguay by beating the latter two, before losing on penalties to Holland.

The 24-year-old currently plays for Rosenborg in Norway, but fancies a move to the Rams - Championship Playoff Finalists last season - with his advisers flying in to work on a deal.

A quality right-back is one of McClaren’s priorities following on-loan Andre Wisdom‘s return to Liverpool.

Gamboa’s arrival would bring back happy memories at Derby, where striker Paolo Wanchope was the first star of Costa Rican football to come to England.

McClaren has found it hard to close domestic deals this summer.

West Brom refuse to budge on their £2.5m valuation of midfielder George Thorne while Middlesbrough want more than Derby’s £1.5m offer for striker Lukas Jutkiewicz.